Springfield, Illinois. Families may enjoy pleasant times together without going over budget thanks to the Illinois State Fair’s daily discounts and free entertainment opportunities.
“We are dedicated to maintaining the fair’s affordability and accessibility for all,” stated Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, in a press statement.
For the 2025 fair, the Illinois State Fair will have a number of theme and bargain days.
On Thursday, August 7, the Double the Fun parking deal will be available. You can get free parking on your way back to the fair on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday if you pay to park at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 7.
On Tuesday, August 12, Twosday will offer adults and seniors $2 entry. The fair’s carnival operator, North American Midway, will also make all rides $2 each to further promote this family-friendly deal. Additionally, any Mega Passes and Jumbo Passes that were sold prior to and during the fair will be honored.
According to Rebecca Clark, manager of the Illinois State Fair, “We love celebrating all the unique experiences the Illinois State Fair has to offer with our theme days.” Every year, we aim to find methods to make the fair accessible, inexpensive, and enjoyable for families while educating them about agriculture, which is the most important industry in Illinois.
The Illinois State Fair’s 2025 theme and discount days are listed below in full:
- Thursday, Aug. 7 County Fairs & Horse Racing Day, Double the Fun
- Friday, Aug. 8 Agriculture Day
- Saturday, Aug. 9 Kids Day
- Sunday, Aug. 10 Veterans & Gold Star Families Day (Free admission for veterans and their immediate families)
- Monday, Aug. 11 Senior Citizens & Scout Day (Free admission for seniors and scouts in uniform)
- Tuesday, Aug. 12 Twosday ($2 admission for seniors and adults)
- Wednesday, Aug. 13 Governor s Day
- Thursday, Aug. 14 Republican Day
- Friday, Aug. 15 First Responder & Healthcare Heroes Day (Free admission for first responders and healthcare workers with ID)
- Saturday, Aug. 16 Park District Conservation Day
- Sunday, Aug. 17 Family Day
In Happy Hollow, Big Top Adventures will present free shows every day at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. There will be jugglers, clowns, trapeze artists, and numerous other performances at the 800-seat circus.
Throughout the Illinois State Fair, there are free events for those who want large thrills, such as the Extreme Dogs stunt dog show, the Off Axis Stunt Show, the Watershow Productions high dive show, and harness racing.
The ponytail contest on August 9 is a hair-raising competition. Visit the Sale of Champions on August 13 to see the finest that agriculture has to offer.
A round-robin doubles pickleball tournament with youth and adult categories is new this year and will take place in the Orr Building on Saturday, August 16. Sign up to play or simply come watch the newest sport in America.
Every night at 7:30 p.m. during the fair, there will be free concerts at the Grand Central Stage. The lineup for this year is:
- Thurs. Aug. 7: Everclear
- Fri. Aug. 8: Diamante
- Sat. Aug. 9: Pecos & The Rooftops
- Sun. Aug. 10: Kashus Culpepper
- Mon. Aug. 11: Shake Rattle N Roll (A Doo Wop & Soul Tribute)
- Tue. Aug. 12: Stephen Wilson Jr
- Wed. Aug. 13: Hunter Flynn
- Thurs. Aug. 14: Head East
- Fri. Aug. 15: The Frontmen
- Sat. Aug. 16: Simply Spice (A Spice Girls Tribute)
- Sun. Aug. 17: Twista
Clark stated, “We want everyone to enjoy all of the free entertainment options at the Illinois State Fair.” Plan ahead for a wonderful and reasonably priced state fair experience with our 2025 Illinois State Fair Guide, our website, and our recently redesigned mobile app.
Springfield will host the 2025 Illinois State Fair from August 7–17. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay informed about all the most recent announcements and news from the Illinois State Fair.
